Shepherd and teacher. Confessor of the Royal Family

27.11.2023 -

…;">Coming: village Kobylnya 54 yards, 201 souls men. gender and 210 female souls. semi,

in the village of Knyazevskie settlements there are 40 households, 132 men’s souls. gender and 147 female souls. semi,

in the village of Khupta Kobylskie settlements there are 29 households, 116 male souls. sex and 122 souls of women. semi,

in the village of Matveevskie settlements there are 18 households, 67 male souls. gender and 53 female souls. semi,

in the village of Strelcha there are 16 households, 84 male souls. sex and 72 souls of women. semi.

A total of 160 households, 630 men's souls. gender and 604 souls of women. half parishioners, all Orthodox.

Trinity Church in Lubyanka

The building is real stone, the ceiling and dome are wooden. The bell tower is also made of stone.

In 1909 /…/ was corrected inside and the entire inside was painted with oil paint. The church is warm.

There are 3 thrones: in the present one - in the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, the 2nd - in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the 3rd - in honor of the Holy Silverless Cosmas and Damian.

There are enough utensils.

There is no salary.

Other sources of income: bank notes, from them % = 98 rubles. - cop. in year.

Church land: estate with graveyard together 4 des. 1200 sq. fathoms, /…/ arable 78 des. 1200 sq. fathoms, 1-2 versts from the church, there is a plan.

The quality of the land is average, most people use it themselves, some they rent out for 10 rubles each. per ten per year.

The priest's house is on church land, built with insurance money, the property of the church. The deacon and psalmist have their own houses, located on church land. The houses are new, iron roofed.

Other buildings: a wooden gatehouse with an iron roof, built in 1912.

From the consistory 120 versts, from the deanery in Turov 7.

From Ryazhsk 23 versts, from the Kenzino railway station 9.

Nearest churches: Nikolskaya in Kobylnya, 3 versts away, and Znamenskaya village. Rattlers at 4.

There are no affiliations.

Inventory of property from 1884, receipt and expenditure books from 1913, copies of birth certificates from 1804, search book from 1913, 11 sheets written, confessions from 1820.

The church library has 140 volumes of books.

There are schools in the parish: zemstvo in Lubyanka, zemstvo in Baranovka, zemstvo in Akseni.

The peasant Semyon Grigoriev Suetin has been the headman of the church since 1914, on the 1st three-year anniversary.

The Reverend visited for the last time in 1887.

Clergy:

Priest Grigory Vasiliev Melioransky 43 years old,
Deacon Ioann Evfimiev Favorov, 49 years old,
psalmist Alexey Borisov Troitsky 72 years old. /…/

Coming: Lubyanka village 151 yards, 461 souls men. gender and 479 female souls. semi,

in the village of Baranovka there are 118 households, 362 male souls. gender and 360 female souls. semi,

in the village of Akseni there are 39 households, 110 male souls. gender and 117 female souls. semi,

in the village of Saltykovskie Vyselki there are 16 courtyards, 50 male souls. gender and 49 female souls. semi.

A total of 324 households, 983 male souls. gender and 1005 female souls. half parishioners, all Orthodox.

In schism, sectarians, Mohammedans, Jews, etc. - No.

Archangel Church in Mordvinovka

Built in 1896 by the diligence of good people.

The building is real wooden, covered with iron, the bell tower is wooden, covered with iron.

Thrones 3: in the present - in the Name of the Archangel Michael of God, to the right - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, to the left the chapel - in the Name of Saints Peter, Alexy, Jonah and Philip of Moscow Wonderworkers.

There are enough utensils.

Staff: priest and psalm-reader. On the face - the same.

Salary 392 rubles. for two.

Club fees: 300 rub. cop. -

Other sources of income: bank notes, % from them = (not calculated - approx.).

Church land: estate with graveyard together 5 des., /…/ arable 33 des. and under the country road 1 des. 2 miles from the church, there is a plan.

The quality of the land is average, partly infertile, income 300 rubles. in year.

The houses of the clergy on church land, built with diligence themselves and constitute their property, are in average condition.

Other buildings: parochial school at the village. Mordvinovka and the parish school at the village of Lyapunovka.

From the consistory at 110 versts, from the deanery in Turov at 8.

From Ryazhsk 20 versts, from the Kenzino railway station 4.

Address: "p/o Ukholovo, Ryazan province."

The nearest churches are: Nikolskaya in Churilovka at 2 versts and Pokrovskaya in Kenzino at 3.

There are no affiliations.

Inventory of property from 1878, receipts and expenditure books from 1877, copies of birth certificates from 1780, search book from 1912, 17 sheets written, confessions from 1827.

There are 50 volumes of books in the church library.

Church money and papers are safe behind the key, the key is with the elder.

There are schools in the parish: a parish school in Mordvinovka, a two-room school and a one-room school in Lyapunovka. Placed in church houses, released from parishioners and from the Ryazhsky district branch of 114 rubles. per year, 60 boys and 50 girls study.

The church elder is a peasant from the village. Mordvinovka Emelyan Shaposhnikov since 1895, for three years.

The Reverend last visited in 1914.

Clergy:

Priest Dimitry Ioannov Pesochin 27 years old,
and/or psalmist Fyodor Ioannov Chilin 22 years old. /…/

Coming: village of Mordvinovka 129 households, 362 souls men. gender and 414 female souls. semi,

in the village of Lyapunova there are 77 households, 241 male souls. gender and 218 female souls. semi,

in the village of Elagin Khutor there are 21 yards, 59 male showers. gender and 66 female souls. semi.

A total of 227 households, 662 men's souls. gender and 698 female souls. half parishioners, all Orthodox.

In schism, sectarians, Mohammedans, Jews, etc. - No.

Nicholas Church in Mostje

Built in 1884-1900. through the diligence of parishioners and other benefactors, it was consecrated in 1901.

The building is real stone, with the same bell tower, warm, strong, covered with iron.

Thrones 3: the main one - in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker,

2) on the right side - in the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh,

3) on the left side - in the name of St. Martyr John the Warrior.

There are enough utensils.

Staff: priest, deacon and psalm-reader. On the face - the same.

There is no salary.

Club fees: 480 rub. - cop.

Other sources of income: bank notes, from them % = 64 rubles. 55 kopecks in year.

Church land: estate with graveyard together 4 dessiatinas, /…/ arable land 40 dessiatinas, 200 fathoms from the church, there is a plan.

The quality of the land is average, partly infertile, income 180 rubles. in year.

The houses of the clergy on church land were built with the care of the clergy themselves, their own.

The house is in good condition. The psalm-reader does not have a home.

Other buildings: stone church gatehouse, covered with iron.

From the consistory 115 versts, from the deanery in Turov 20.

From Ryazhsk 30 versts, from the Sukharevo railway station of the Syzran-Vyazemskaya railway 4.

Address: "p/o Ukholovo, Ryazan province."

The nearest churches are: Voskresenskaya in Dubrovka at 1 verst and Kazanskaya in Serbino at 3, Trinity in Ukholovo at 5 versts.

There are no affiliations.

Inventory of property since 1884, receipt and expense books since 1913, copies of metrics since 1872, except for the years 1785, 1786, 1790 and 1890, search book since 1912, 14 sheets written, confessions since 1826.

There are 5 volumes of books in the church library.

Church money and papers are safe behind the key, the key is with the elder.

There are schools in the parish: zemstvo in the village. Mostier and the parish church in Butyrki.

In the village itself, a parochial school was built on purchased land, 390 rubles are allocated for maintenance from the Ryazhsky district branch of the Ryazan Diocesan School Council, 29 boys and 22 girls are educated.

The Sapozhkov tradesman Ioann Grigoriev Krom has been the headman of the church since 1909, for three years.

The Reverend last visited in - year.

Clergy:

Sacred Cosma Feofanov Nazarev 39 years old,
Deacon Mikhail Mikhailov Lebedev 56 years old,
psalmist - (there is no psalmist). /…/

Coming: Mostye village 96 households, 273 souls men. gender and 277 female souls. semi,

in the village of Kairovoy there are 13 households, 54 male souls. gender and 39 female souls. semi,

in the village of Otrada there are 40 households, 108 male souls. gender and 118 female souls. semi,

in the village of Alexandrovka there are 16 courtyards, 69 men’s showers. gender and 67 female souls. semi,

in the village of Satin there are 13 households, 53 men's souls. floor and 60 women's households. semi,

in the village of Butyrki there are 114 households, 353 male souls. gender and 369 female souls. semi,

in the village of Isavshchina there are 20 households, 79 male souls. sex and 84 souls of women. semi.

A total of 312 households, 989 male souls. gender and 1014 female souls. half parishioners, all Orthodox.

In schism, sectarians, Mohammedans, Jews, etc. - No.

Archangel Church in Pogorelovka

Built in 1869 through the diligence of parishioners and various benefactors.

The building is real wooden, on a brick foundation, the bell tower is the same. The inside is plastered, painted, its dome is covered with planks, outside both the church and the bell tower are covered with planks and painted.

Thrones 3: in the present – 1) in the Name of the Archangel of God Michael,

2) Nativity of John the Baptist,

3) Great Martyr Theodore Tiron.

There are enough utensils.

Staff: priest, psalm-reader. On the face - the same.

Salary 400 rubles. in year.

Club fees: 400 rub. - cop.

Other sources of income: bank notes, from them % = 60 rubles. - cop. in year.

Church land: estate with graveyard together 4 des. 500 sq. m. fathoms, /…/ arable 31 des. 304 sq. fathoms, ½ verst from the church, in addition, 440 fathoms is located under a country road. There is a plan.

The quality of the land is small black soil, income is 10-15 rubles. per year from tithe.

The houses of the clergy on church land, built with the diligence of the priest and psalm-reader in 1890, are their own. The houses are strong.

Other church buildings:

1) wooden, iron-roofed parish school building,

2) a new stone, iron-roofed building for the parochial school,

3) a stone (brick) iron-roofed building for a church gatehouse.

From the consistory 100 versts, from the deanery in Turov 20.

From Ryazhsk 27 versts, from the railway station - .

Address: "p/o Ukholovo, Ryazan province."

The nearest churches are: Trinity in Ukholovo, 3 versts, and Pokrovskaya in Kenzin, 6 versts away.

There are no affiliations.

Inventory of property from 1878, receipts and expenditure books from 1912, copies of birth certificates from 1812, search book from 1911, 32 sheets written, confessions from 1826.

There are 10 volumes of books in the church library.

Church money and papers are safe behind the key, the key is with the elder.

The parish has a school: a one-class, two-room parochial school.

In the village itself, there is a school in its own church house, for the maintenance of the parish school, funds from local peasants are 50 rubles from the Ryazhsky district department, 100 rubles, 45 boys and 23 girls are studying.

The Ryazhian merchant of the 2nd guild, Akim Mitrofanov Proshlyakov, has been the headman of the church since 1899.

The Reverend last visited in 1878.

Clergy:

Priest John Georgiev Karinsky 65 years old,
Psalmist Stefan Nikolaev Solotchin 40 years old. /…/

Parish: Pogorelovka village 106 households, 324 male and 334 female souls,

in the village of Kakuy there are 31 yards, 99 male and 105 female souls,

in the village of Kakuyskiye settlement there are 18 households, 50 males and 60 females,

in the village of Slobodka Ganilovka there are 13 households, 40 males and 48 females.

A total of 169 households, 518 souls (husbands) and 557 souls (wives) half parishioners, all Orthodox.

In schism, sectarians, Mohammedans, Jews, etc. - No.

Church of the Intercession in the village of Pokrovskoye

It was built in 1789 with the diligence of the landowner Fyodor Matveev Leontiev, and the side-altar by dismantling the old cramped one in 1890, built at the expense of the landowner Alexandra Nikolaevna Dubrovina and benefactors of the parishioners, consecrated in 1893.

The building is real stone, on a stone foundation, with the same bell tower, strong, everything is covered with iron.

Thrones 3: in the present - in the Name of the Intercession Ave. Theotokos, and in the chapel there are two - in the Name of the Nativity of John the Baptist and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra.

There are enough utensils.

Staff: 2 priests, a deacon and 2 psalm-readers. On the face - the same.

There is no salary.

Club fees: about 2000 rubles.

Other sources of income: income from land 600 rubles per year.

Church land: estate with graveyard together 10 dessiatinas. approximately /…/ arable 65 des. 350 sq. fathoms, no haymaking, no plan, 2 ½ versts from the church.

The quality of the land is sandy loam, income is 10 rubles. per year from tithe.

The houses of the clergy on church land were built with their care. The houses require renovation.

Other buildings: a woodshed, a brick church gatehouse with an iron roof and a parish school, brick and iron roof.

From the consistory 100 versts, from the deanery in Turov 30.

From Ryazhsk 33 versts, from the railway station - .

Address: "p/o Ukholovo, Ryazan province."

Nearest churches: the village of Tolstykh Olkhov Pokrovskaya is 5 versts away and the village of Yasenok Pokrovskaya is 8 versts away.

There are no affiliations.

Inventory of property from 1878, receipts and expenditure books from 1910, copies of birth certificates from 1783, search book from 1911, 162 sheets written, confessions from 1826, except 1895.

There are 132 volumes of books in the church library.

Church money and papers are safe behind the key, the key is with the elder.

There are schools in the parish: a parish school in the village, in the church fence, and zemstvo schools in the village. Pokrovsky, and the other in the village of Solovachevo.

In Pokrovsky itself, there is a school in the house of church trusteeship, 103 rubles are allocated from local peasants for the maintenance of the parish school, and 780 rubles are allocated from the Ryazhsky district department for the maintenance of teachers, 87 boys and 29 girls are studying, a total of 116 students.

Ryazhian tradesman Vasily Evsigneev Popov has been the headman of the church since 1896, for three years.

The Reverend last visited in 1874.

Clergy:

Archpriest Nikolai Alekseev Sabchakov 76 years old,
priest John Georgiev Tverdov 38 years old,
Deacon Sergiy Dimitriev Antipatrov 45 years old,
psalmist Vasily Petrov Arkhangelsky 54 years old,
psalmist Alexander Ivanov Arkhangelsky 22 years old. /…/

Coming: Pokrovskoye village 545 households, 2056 male and 2158 female females,

in the village of Solovacheva there are 81 courtyards, 298 male and 325 female souls.

A total of 626 households, 2354 souls (husbands) and 2483 souls (wives) half parishioners, all Orthodox.

Baptists – 2 (2+1). In schism, sectarians, Mohammedans, Jews, etc. - No.

Kazan Church in Serbin

Built in 1794 with the care of the landowner Agafya Onsiforova Serbina.

The building is made of stone, on a stone foundation, with the same bell tower in connection, strong, covered with iron.

Thrones 3: the main cold one - in the Name of the “Kazan Mother of God”, in the right aisle - St. Nicholas, on the left - “All Saints”.

The utensils are poor.

Staff: priest, psalm-reader and prosphora maker. On the face - the same.

Salary 400 rubles. on parch.

Club fees: 287 rub. - cop.

Other sources of income: income from renting land... (not filled in completely - approx.).

Church land: estate with graveyard together des - square sazh, /.../ arable 30 dessiatinas, - of which 3 dessiatinas are swamps, 100 sazhens from the church.

The quality of the land is average, partly infertile, the so-called bel (salt marsh). Processed by the clergy members themselves.

The houses of the clergy on the field land were built with the care of the clergy in 1903. The houses are in good condition.

Other buildings: parish school, wooden, built in 1900.

From the consistory 120 versts, from the deanery in Turovo 25.

From Ryazhsk 30 versts, from the railway station 5.

Address: "p/o Ukholovo, Ryazan province."

Current page: 1 (book has 23 pages total) [available reading passage: 16 pages]

Vyacheslav Marchenko, Richard (Thomas) Batts
Confessor of the royal family. Archbishop Theophan of Poltava, New Recluse (1873–1940)

This publication is published in the year of the seventieth anniversary of the blessed death of Archbishop Theophan the New Recluse.

The first edition was published in 1994 with the blessing of Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga John (Snychev)

Biography of Archbishop Feofan of Poltava (Bystrov)

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me.

(Matt. 5:11)

Be faithful until death

and I will give you the crown of life.

(Apoc. 2, 10)

Preface to the first edition. Archbishop Theophan of Poltava – Defender of Orthodoxy

The great Saint and spiritual writer Theophan the Recluse had many readers who wanted to live like a Christian, following his teaching. But there were few true followers who were fully receptive to the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.

One of the rare recipients of a genuine inheritance was the modest bearer of his name ~ Feofan (Bistrov), Archbishop of Poltava, later of Bulgaria, who died as a recluse in the caves of France. His spiritual appearance is in many ways reminiscent of his namesake, the great recluse Feofan Vyshensky († 1894), and although historical whirlwinds carried him beyond the borders of Russia, his place in Russian hagiography of the 20th century is nevertheless noticeable and significant. The enemies of Archbishop Theophan the New Recluse tried to destroy the memory of him, but the lamp of God, even in hiding, will shine with the grace of God; such a great ascetic cannot be hidden, and his memory only grows stronger every year.

The significance of Archbishop Theophan of Poltava, who was the confessor of the Royal Family, one of the greatest theologians of his time and a humble representative of the crucified Holy Rus', lies primarily in standing for the purity of Orthodoxy. Despite the temptations of our age, despite the historical changes in the psychology of the Russian people, Bishop Theophan grows in our memory every year as a true Father of the Church.

Archbishop Feofan (Bystrov)

The theological works of Archbishop Feofan have not been sufficiently studied and remain hidden. His contribution to the treasury of Orthodox patristics has hitherto been known only in

two areas: firstly, ~ the defense of the Cross of the Lord, that is, the Orthodox teaching on the dogma of the Redemption, from the innovation of Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky); and, secondly, ~ his criticism of the Sophianism of Father Sergius Bulgakov. If history is destined to continue, the spiritual image of Archbishop Theophan of Poltava will be universally glorified. If the end of the world is not far off, then the teachings of Bishop Theophan will be support for enduring the coming trials.

The biography of Bishop Theophan was compiled on the basis of the records of his four students and cell attendants: Archbishops Averky of Syracuse († 1976) and Joasaph of Canada († 1955) and younger cell attendants - Sevryugin and Chernov (the now living schemamonk Epiphanius). At our insistence, Archbishop Averky compiled and published a biography, as well as letters written by Vladyka, mostly to himself. Chernov drew up a great work for us, but included in it a lot of extraneous things that are not directly related to the main goal - to show the general appearance of a righteous man, a confessor of true Orthodoxy. But the main “culprit” for the publication of these records is the spiritual daughter of Bishop Theophan back in Russia, Elena Yuryevna Kontsevich, the niece of another admirer of St. Theophan, the famous church writer Sergei Alexandrovich Nilus. She firmly believed in the holiness of the New Recluse, went to see him in France and made us promise to publish a book about him and his defense of the purity of Orthodox teaching.

Archbishop of Syracuse Averky (Taushev)

Archbishop of Canada Joasaph (Skorodumov)

For the awakening Holy Rus', the spiritual significance of Bishop Theophan is support in the apostolic standing in the Truth, without which it is impossible to overcome the Antichrist spirit of our time.

With the blessing of the now living Saint John, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, this modest work of the Brotherhood of St. Herman of Alaska is being printed.

The publishers express the hope that the book will serve as an impetus for the publication in the future of the unpublished works of Bishop Theophan. A thorough study of at least his wonderful work “Russian Philokalia” will give spiritual strength to young ascetics.

The book appears with the obvious mysterious help of the Bishop himself... How he rejoices now in heaven when, in the year of the centenary (1894–1994) since the death of his spiritual teacher, St. Theophan the Recluse of Vyshensky, honored throughout the entire Orthodox world, God and his contribution come to light into a spiritual treasury, from where the spiritual poor will be able to draw for themselves the wealth of patristic wisdom, in order to live their lives comfortably and appear rich at the Judgment of God.

Schemamonk Epiphanius (Chernov)

The above-mentioned friends of Archbishop Theophan the New Recluse are now rejoicing, for they also put all their efforts into the task of collecting the former glory of Holy Rus'. This heritage is now being passed on to a new generation with the help of God, so that our young men, looking at the wondrous images of both Saints Theophan, with renewed vigor, sow the holy and good things left to us by the great ascetics.

May the all-generous Lord our God Jesus Christ help us all to become spiritually stronger and continue the holy work of strengthening the Christian race.

Hegumen German with his brethren.

May 7/20 1994;

appearance of the Holy Cross

in Jerusalem in 351

Preface to the second edition

Beloved readers in Christ! You hold in your hands an invaluable treasure - a testimony about the chosen one of God, the great lamp of the Universal Orthodox Church, Archbishop Theophan. This is the second edition of the book “Confessor of the Royal Family. Archbishop Theophan of Poltava, New Recluse.”

2nd edition cover

Such was the will of God that for several decades the name of the Lord remained unknown to the majority of the faithful, but the authors of this book knew the prediction of one servant of Christ, whose spiritual advice Archbishop Theophan himself used during his lifetime, ~ about the fate of Russia and about the exceptional position that he would occupy in due time Bishop Theophan in the earthly Church, when he becomes one of the beloved and revered Russian saints of universal significance. Bishop Theophan fought confessionally and martyrically for the Orthodox Faith, the Lord granted him a place in His Heavenly Kingdom, He destined for him to be in the future resurrected Russia, in Russia, which has atoned for its terrible sins of the 20th century.

Under amazing, miraculous circumstances, with obvious help from above, the Vladyka’s archive, which was considered forever lost, was completely unexpectedly found. And the Most Merciful Lord gave this treasure to us. “Lord, who believed what was heard from us, and to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Ps. 53:1) ~ the holy prophet exclaims with sorrow. But we have the prophecy of the ascetic we mentioned that Vladyka Theophan, who has passed into eternity, will act in Russia even after his death.

Richard (Thomas) Batts

Vyacheslav Marchenko.

Preface to this edition

The righteous are always persecuted during their lifetime; Great righteous people are often persecuted posthumously - while their persecutors are alive and while the memory of them interferes with the atheists.

The Holy Royal Family of Emperor Nicholas II has been and is being subjected to the greatest slander in the world. The people around her also received a lot of lies and rejection. The world, lying in evil, does not want to know the good, it is afraid of the light. Archbishop Theophan, confessor of the holy Tsar Nicholas and his holy Family, was a true ascetic, he became one of the new glorious saints of Christ; suffered persecution during his lifetime, but to this day is not accepted even by all Orthodox Christians - those of them who are most concerned with the organization of external well-being.

The example of the Lord’s life clearly shows how narrow the path leading to salvation is, and inspires strong souls to walk along this path.

When in the nineties I came into the hands of the manuscripts of Bishop Theophan - through my spiritual brother Thomas (Orthodox American Richard Batts) from Father Herman (Podmoshensky), I did not immediately understand what a treasure it was. But months of joint work with Foma to compile a biography passed, an understanding of the importance of the material that came to us - not according to our merit - came, and fear arose. The fear is that the book will not be accepted either by outside people or by many in the church. But the Lord, who miraculously preserved the manuscripts of His chosen one and the memories of him, showed us His saint who could bless this work: we learned that Metropolitan of St. Petersburg John (Snychev) is an admirer of Bishop Theophan, that he even wished that so that the grave of the ascetic was transferred from France to Russia.

And so we sent the manuscript to St. Petersburg.

...Weeks passed.

At this time, the abbot of the St. Herman Hermitage in Platina in Northern California (USA), Father German (Podmoshensky), was on business in Russia.

Metropolitan John (Snychev)

Father asked me to put him on the phone with Metropolitan John. Then I had the opportunity to speak with Vladyka for the first time. Bishop John immediately invited us to visit him, and I had the opportunity to visit him together with Father Herman. For the only time in my life I was privileged to see this ascetic and communicate with him.

I won’t talk about the details; Bishop John and Father Herman spoke about the main purpose of our visit. I was more interested in the Vladyka’s opinion about our manuscript. And so I, seizing the moment, excitedly asked about her. The Bishop replied that so many manuscripts come to him, the large table is piled up to the ceiling, that he physically cannot read even a small part of what is sent. He asked not to be offended, but at the same time asked what kind of manuscript it was. When I answered that it was about Vladyka Feofan (Bystrov), Vladyka John, completely changed, said: “Why, I read it, and very carefully!” In response to my request to write a preface to the future book, he replied that he himself knew much less before reading it, that he had nothing to add. When I asked for a blessing for the publication, he immediately gave it to my clarifying question: “So, we can write: Blessing of His Eminence John, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga?” - he replied: “If you do this, I will be happy.”

Vyacheslav Marchenko

Introduction. Childhood

The weak human word is not able to adequately tell about the high life of the Lord. The Lord in our cruel times revealed in him a great luminary of the Church, a Hierarch of high spiritual life, an ascetic, whose whole life was an unceasing prayer for the Russian country suffering under the yoke of God-fighting.

As a scholar-theologian and hierarch who constantly testified that “the true expression of the teaching of the Orthodox Church is the teaching expressed in the works of the Holy Fathers of the Church,” the Saint of Christ unwaveringly stood guard over the purity of Orthodoxy and was forced to speak out against the newly discovered deviations from the dogmatic teaching of the Church of Christ.

And naturally, he, quiet and inconspicuous, made himself many enemies and slanderers.

Archbishop Theophan, the confessor of the Royal Family, maintained high and touching reverence and Christian love for the Tsar, Empress and their most august Children throughout his entire life as the Anointed of God, the true bearers of the Christian spirit, who accepted great suffering in Christ and the crown of martyrdom from the Lord.

The future Archbishop Feofan was born in the village of Podmoshye, Novgorod province, into a large family of rural priest Dimitry Bystrov and Mother Maria (nee Razumovskaya), whose entire wealth was the piety of her parents. The baby was born on the very last day of 1873 (Old Art.) and was named after the nearest saint, Basil the Great, one of the three great universal teachers and saints.

In early childhood, when Vasily was three or four years old, he saw an amazing, prophetic dream sent from above. He retold it to his parents in his childish language, not understanding what it could mean. He saw himself in a dream already “big”, in bishop’s vestments and in a “golden cap”. And he stood in the altar on the High Place during the Divine Liturgy, and the priest, his own father, burned incense for him as a bishop.

It is interesting that the dream came true to such detail that his own father, summoned by the Holy Synod to the consecration of his son, took part in the service and actually burned incense for him, who stood on the High Place.

Little Vasya, according to the recollections of his parents, loved to pray from early childhood. He did not yet know how to read, did not know the prayers by heart... But the child knelt down in front of the holy icons, in awe of the greatness of God, and babbled with unspeakable sighs(Rom. 8:26):

- Lord, Lord, You are so big, and I am so small!..

And in that wondrous, amazing prayer of the little one was heard - unwise in words, but wise in meaning - the future unceasing prayer of Jesus as a new ascetic. And the words of the Gospel were fulfilled on him: from the mouths of babes and sucklings You have given praise(Matt. 21:16).

About this prayer, which in those years was the breath of a child’s soul, the Vladyka himself spoke to one of his cell attendants in the last years of his earthly life: “After all, all this is so touching... Yes, the Lord gives each person who prays the appropriate degree of prayer (see: 1 Samuel 2:9 - glory, text)... And think about the inner meaning of those childish, helpless words, how good they are: “Lord, have mercy on me and help me, your infinitely weak, helpless and distressed creation... Have mercy on me, Lord!”

The youth Vasily lived a quiet, unnoticeable inner life. He was focused, collected, but at the same time bright and joyful. A prayerful mood kept him

from children's pranks and excessive addiction to games. Even as a child, Vasily tasted for the Lord is good(Ps. 33:9), he tasted the gift of prayer, and prayer became his mentor for the rest of his life. She taught him to be careful about the spiritual world, because in his soul he felt the voice of an unhypocritical, indisputable Judge, who clearly informed him what was good and what was bad. As soon as the prayerful mood was interrupted and peace of mind was disturbed, Vasily realized that something was wrong. Then he began to check himself and look for the reason for what happened: either an inappropriate word was said, or an act was committed that was not pleasing to God.

And having found something wrong in his soul, he threw himself in repentance before God, begging Him for forgiveness, until his conscience calmed down and until the inner judge ceased to convict him, informing him that the sin had been forgiven by God and peace of mind had been restored.

Thus, heartfelt prayer and inner spiritual peace became his constant guides in his spiritual life. This inner mentor always showed him his life path.

The early years of the Saint

Loving the Lord God with all the strength of his pure soul, young Vasily loved the nature He created, especially the harsh nature of the North, untouched by human hands, among which he grew up. He clearly saw the Invisible God in her: For His invisible, His eternal power and Godhead(Rom. 1:20). At that time, it was still preserved in its pristine, virgin beauty. All the people of this region were farmers. But the feeding land is poor, clay and swamps, and infertile. Therefore, people here lived poorly, even in poverty. Summer here is short and winter is long. All around there are forests and swampy places with standing water. There are a lot of mushrooms and berries in the forests: blueberries, cloudberries. Lots of birds. And above all this is the vast living sky. The people around are sedate, pious, humble. And the boy Vasily inhaled this blessed air. The priest's son, quiet and diligent, was always in sight.

The time has come, he entered school. In teaching, the Lord gave him exceptional abilities. They appeared later in the parish school, and, to an even greater extent, in the Theological Seminary and Theological Academy.

Due to the poverty and large number of children of his parents, their youngest son Vasily left his home early. He was assigned to the elementary Theological School at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra at public expense. The boy grew up thin and physically weak, but studied very well: he was the first student. But he himself then already understood that his successes did not depend on him, they were a gift from God. After graduating from college, Vasily entered the Theological Seminary.

Bishop Archbishop later told his cell attendants about his studies: “It was very easy for me to study at the Theological Seminary. It was enough for me to read one page, and I could retell it almost word for word. And in the classes I was the smallest in height and the youngest in age.”

Seeing his extraordinary abilities, he was quickly transferred to the senior classes, so that he graduated from the seminary three years earlier than those with whom he entered the first class. But the future Archbishop, realizing the great spiritual danger in all this, so as not to imagine himself and fall into destructive delusion, prayed for a decrease in his abilities for the sciences. He reasoned like this: “Everyone praised me, admired me. And I could easily become proud and imagine God knows what about myself. But the Guardian Angel warned me, and I realized what an abyss gaped before me.” We do not know whether his prayer was heard, but this spiritual state in itself, a prayer for the taking away of the gift of God, is a rare phenomenon in spiritual life, testifying to the mature spiritual reasoning of the young man.

Vasily graduated brilliantly from a secondary theological educational institution, and he had to take exams for a higher educational institution, the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. He was then less than seventeen years old.

Student years

Remember your teachers (Heb. 13:7)

Professor V.V. Bolotov. Processors A.P. Lopukhin and N.H. Glubokovsky. Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt

The youngest of the applicants, just a boy, Vasily was well prepared for the exams. The only thing I was afraid of was writing philosophy from the famous professor M.I. Karinsky, especially since philosophy was not included in the seminar program. In preparation for it, he prayed to the holy martyr Justin the Philosopher and the holy great universal teachers and saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, prayed for the enlightenment of the mind, for the giving of true and easy thought.

And now the day of testing has come. Professor M.I. Karinsky entered, said hello and, turning to the board, wrote the topic of the essay: “The importance of personal experience for developing a worldview.” And young Vasily thanked God for a topic that was close and understandable. Through the prayers of the saints, the Lord gave a truly easy thought. The work, which was allotted four hours, was completed in half an hour and was only one page. Applicant Bystrov stood up and asked permission to submit his work. Mr. Professor was apparently surprised. Looking at his watch, he said with some bewilderment:

- Well, okay... Serve it.

Professor Karinsky Mikhail Ivanovich

It seems that he thought then that the youngest of the applicants simply did not understand the topic: he hesitated somewhat when he accepted the essay sheet. Having asked Vasily to wait a little, the examiner began to read. While reading, I paused several times, looking carefully at the author of the essay. When he finished reading, he said:

- Thank you, thank you!.. You can be free.

The most difficult exam passed so quickly and surprisingly easily! And the name of Vasily Bystrov was first on the list of students based on the results of all exams. (It should be noted that Professor Karinsky remembered this “impromptu” of the young student many years later, when Archimandrite Feofan was already an inspector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.)

Student Vasily Dimitrievich Bystrov, having completed all four academic years first, completed his theological education at the age of twenty-one. By decision of the academic council, he was retained at the academy for scientific work as a professorial fellow.

Subsequently, he spoke very warmly about the academy: about the conditions in which students lived and studied, about the possibility of scientific work.

St. Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary

The professors worked conscientiously and even talentedly. Among them, a precious nugget shone - professor of ancient history of the Church Vasily Vasilyevich Bolotov (1854–1900). Vasily Vasilyevich spoke many languages, not only new, but also ancient, and, moreover, studied them on his own and in the shortest possible time. He knew Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Syriac and Assyrian-Babylonian cuneiform, Arabic, Abyssinian (liturgical - Ge'ez and colloquial - Ahmar), Coptic (and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs), Armenian, Persian (cuneiform, Zend and New Persian), Sanskrit, German, French, English, Italian, Dutch, Danish-Norwegian, Portuguese, Gothic, Celtic, Turkish, Finnish, Magyar. Vasily Vasilyevich used all these languages for his scientific research.

Professor Bolotov Vasily Vasilievich

He surprised and amazed everyone with his knowledge, which had nothing in common with his professorial specialty, such as, for example, higher mathematics or astronomy. As for his specialty, the scope of his knowledge can be understood from the following example.

The professor himself spoke about everything that the traveler looked at as if with blind eyes and did not see what these dumb witnesses were reporting from ancient times, because he did not know the languages in which these inscriptions were made. The professor kept talking and talking, without stopping, as if reading from a book. The traveler himself later admitted to Bishop Theophan: “I was simply speechless with surprise and fascination. After all, Professor Bolotov had never been to Abyssinia, but knew in such archaeological detail all the monuments there. Just think that he quoted many inscriptions to me and accompanied all this with such historical explanations that the distant picture of events, thousands of years removed from us, came to life with amazing reality, as if in the retelling of an eyewitness... I quickly turned into only a grateful and enthusiastic listener . I was terribly uncomfortable that I wanted to tell such a person something new that he did not know. Professor Bolotov turned out to be a resident of those places and those distant times, and I tried to tell him something new about Abyssinia from my fleeting meager impressions. He knew everything in such minute detail that I had no idea... I had to frankly admit everything to the professor and ask him to forgive me.”

Professor Vasily Vasilyevich Bolotov came from common people. He was the son of a village psalm-reader, born on January 1, 1854. From childhood he showed remarkable abilities in learning and thereby attracted everyone's attention. So, he graduated with honors from theological school and seminary. As a seminary student, he knew the ancient Greek language so well that he compiled a canon in this language for Saint Basil the Great, whose name he bore. A grammar of the Abyssinian language that accidentally fell into his hands, given to him by mistake instead of a Hebrew grammar, led to his studying the Abyssinian language. According to the reviews of the seminary teachers, Vasily Bolotov occupied a place “above the first” in the class, and so much higher than the first that it was necessary to skip forty numbers behind him in order to place the next student (“To the blessed memory of Professor V.V. Bolotov.” V. Preobrazhensky. Riga, 1928, p. 1).

Having entered the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, he also immediately attracted the special attention of the Council of Professors of the Academy. When the professor in the department of ancient history of the Church died, the Academy Council decided not to occupy the vacant department until the end of the course by student V.V. Bolotov, - this student placed himself so highly in scientific terms. This decision was made in 1878, and in 1879, just a few months after completing the course, he brilliantly defended his master’s thesis on the ancient history of the Church and took the professorship. The topic of his defense was: “Origen’s Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.” This topic required multifaceted and deep knowledge of both theology and philosophy. Reviewer, Professor I.E. Troitsky, spoke of this work as deserving of three doctoral degrees (“To the blessed memory of Professor V.V. Bolotov,” p. 2). For his numerous subsequent works in this field, he was awarded the scientific degree of Doctor of Church History.

With his knowledge of many languages, he was a member of various commissions: on the issue of Old Catholics, on the accession of the Chaldean Syrians to Orthodoxy, and so on. Finally, he was a member of the state Astronomical Commission. This Commission was asked about the possibilities of calendar reform. But when Professor Bolotov read his report, involving a mass of scientific material - astronomical, mathematical, archaeological, and touched upon ancient calendars, Babylonian and others - the Commission decided that the question of calendar reform was scientifically unfounded.

Archbishop Feofan said all this and much more about Vasily Vasilyevich Bolotov.

This gifted professor treated the young student Vasily Dimitrievich Bystrov with special warmth. So, one day during the examination session, Professor Bolotov entered the classroom in which an exam was taking place in one of the important subjects of the academic course. But the professor did not participate in the examination committee. While the students were languidly waiting for their turn to take the exam, Vasily Vasilyevich unexpectedly sat down next to student V.D. Bystrov. Quite naturally, the student was embarrassed by this. But the professor, with his simple and emphatically friendly attitude towards the student, overcame this embarrassment and not as a professor, but as a comrade, began to question Vasily Dimitrievich:

- Probably tired? I know from myself that the examination session is very tiring and takes a lot of energy. But are you, as always, prepared?

- Yes, I worked hard. But whether I know the subject, I cannot judge that; the examination committee will tell you that.

– I have no doubt about your preparation. But this waiting takes a lot of energy.

“And somehow imperceptibly the professor began to take an interest in my preparation for the exam,” Vladyka later recalled. “However, his questions were not in the form of questions from a professor to a student. No, in tone these were questions from a conversation between two students, but of different courses, senior and junior. He asked, but as if wanting to convince me of my knowledge. The professor never showed his superiority in knowledge. On his part, it was a completely collegial, friendly and even friendly conversation. However, this conversation touched on a range of issues incomparably broader than the academic course.

– Great, great... Be calm. Success is guaranteed!

After these words, the professor suddenly stood up and, addressing the commission, said:

– Student Vasily Dimitrievich Bystrov passed the exam in the subject with “excellent” marks!

But I could not know that this such an unusual friendly conversation would turn out to be an exam. Apparently, the professor, in order to emphasize his kind, cordial attitude towards me and at the same time to free me from worries, had previously agreed with the commission that he would conduct the exam privately. Therefore, the chairman of the commission, addressing me, publicly stated:

– So, as you heard, you have already passed the exam. You can be free!

Professor Bolotov, turning to me, said quietly:

- So, we are free. We can leave! Let's go!

I was amazed by everything that happened and, of course, deeply grateful to Professor V.V. Bolotov... But glory and praise belong to the Lord.”

The professor favored the young student, seeing in him not only a colleague. The professor and the student had a lot in common. Both of them come from the village, from the common people. The first is the son of a village psalm-reader, the second is the son of a village priest. Both were undoubtedly prayed for by their parents' prayers. Both knew the need from personal experience. Both showed extraordinary abilities. Both completed their studies at theological school and seminary with brilliant success. After that, they also brilliantly completed their higher education at the same St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Both one and the other were selected and retained by the Academic Council as professorial fellows and master's students. Both of them began teaching at the academy the year the course was completed. Bolotov as a professor at the age of twenty-five, and Bystrov at the age of twenty-one as an associate professor. Both bore the same name - St. Basil the Great, fervently prayed to him, and he was their patron and leader. All this, of course, brought them closer and related.

To our deepest regret, Professor Vasily Vasilyevich Bolotov, who led a strict, ascetic lifestyle, died very young, forty-six years old. The head of the Russian state, Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II, expressed on his own behalf and on behalf of the entire August Family his deepest condolences regarding his death, calling Professor Dr. Vasily Vasilyevich Bolotov “incomparable.”

The Lord sent him a righteous death. Three hours before his death, he uttered the following significant words:

– How beautiful are the moments before death!

An hour later he said:

- I'm dying!

He continued to maintain his usual cheerful state and did not stop pronouncing individual words, although with difficulty:

- I’m coming to Christ... Christ is coming...

A quarter of an hour before his death, he stopped talking, folded his hands on his chest and, closing his eyes, seemed to fall asleep.

Ten minutes before his death, the priest came in and, kneeling, read the funeral prayer with the hospital staff. His death occurred during the All-Night Vigil on Maundy Thursday, April 5, 1900.

Knowing the prophecies of the saints about the onset of terrible events in the near future, he repeated during his lifetime:

– No, I’m not a resident of the 20th century! Everlasting memory!

Among other professors, Professor Alexander Pavlovich Lopukhin (born in 1852) stood out. He is known for his missionary work in North America. At the academy, he occupied various departments at different times and published many scientific works, starting with apologetics and ending with the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Professor A.P. Lopukhin really wanted to leave Vladyka Theophan, at that time a hieromonk, and then an archimandrite and associate professor in the department of Biblical history, which he himself occupied, to continue his work and bequeathed to him posthumously his library of thousands. But the Lord judged otherwise.

Vyacheslav Marchenko, Richard (Thomas) Batts

Confessor of the royal family. Archbishop Theophan of Poltava, New Recluse (1873–1940)

This publication is published in the year of the seventieth anniversary of the blessed death of Archbishop Theophan the New Recluse.

The first edition was published in 1994 with the blessing of Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga John (Snychev)

Biography of Archbishop Feofan of Poltava (Bystrov)

Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unjustly because of Me.

(Matt. 5:11)

Be faithful until death

and I will give you the crown of life.

(Apoc. 2, 10)

Preface to the first edition. Archbishop Theophan of Poltava – Defender of Orthodoxy

Archbishop Feofan (Bystrov)

The theological works of Archbishop Feofan have not been sufficiently studied and remain hidden. His contribution to the treasury of Orthodox patristics has hitherto been known only in

Archbishop of Syracuse Averky (Taushev)

Archbishop of Canada Joasaph (Skorodumov)

With the blessing of the now living Saint John, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, this modest work of the Brotherhood of St. Herman of Alaska is being printed.

Schemamonk Epiphanius (Chernov)

May the all-generous Lord our God Jesus Christ help us all to become spiritually stronger and continue the holy work of strengthening the Christian race.

Hegumen German with his brethren.

May 7/20 1994;

appearance of the Holy Cross

in Jerusalem in 351